The High Line has become one of the most innovative and inviting public spaces in New York City. The black steel columns that once supported abandoned train tracks now hold up an elevated park—part promenade, part town square, part botanical garden.

The highly acclaimed designers for the Highline were landscape architect James Corner of Field Operations and the architecture firm of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. They designed the park to showcase the industrial quality of the original elevated train track while also incorporating modern aesthetics and landscaping.

The third phase of the High Line includes a children’s play area that continues this theme by exposing the support beams and allowing the original structure to become the design.

To make the metal beams safe for children to play on, we were asked to fabricate rubber sleeves or caps to cover the steel. Because the original structure was built in the 1930’s, the beam sizes were inconsistent and each section had to be meticulously measured to create the individual molds.

In addition to the rubber beam caps, Atta built the gopher hole – a fiberglass and rubber enclosure with hand holds and steps that lead to a clear plastic dome.

As we are located across the street from the Highline, it was thrilling to work on such an iconic and positive aspect of our neighborhood.